SAINT JAMES - Vintage 1885 - 47%
The Saint James Distillery is located in Martinique, the true cradle of exceptional agricole rum. Its remarkable history begins with Reverend Edmond Lefébure, then Superior Father of the Brothers of Charity convent and passionate about chemistry. Quickly, he perceived the remarkable potential of fresh cane eaux-de-vie distilled near his hospital and decided to produce his own rum. Over the decades, the distillery underwent major changes, notably in 1973 when the Cointreau company bought the Saint James Rums and centralized production in Sainte-Marie. Since 2003, it has been the La Martiniquaise group that owns the distillery, ensuring the preservation of know-how and the authenticity of this exceptional rum.
The Saint James Rum comes exclusively from the fermentation and then distillation in a Creole column of pure juice from freshly pressed sugar cane. This unique know-how, recognized by the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) Rhum Agricole de la Martinique, offers Saint James rums a very rich aromatic palette and a perfect structure for optimal aging in oak barrels. The distillery is committed to producing a pure rum, without added sweeteners or artificial substances. It also integrates its production into a sustainable economy approach to reduce its environmental impact. The sugar cane fields are located around the distillery, which limits transportation and thus CO₂ emissions. Bagasse, the fibrous residue from cane crushing, is used as an energy source to power distillation and mills. Part of it is also transformed into natural compost or used to produce electricity thanks to a turbo-alternator. Finally, vinasse, a by-product of distillation, is treated to obtain water used to irrigate the sugar cane plantations, thus closing the virtuous cycle of production.
The Saint James 1885 is a true rarity in the world of premium rums. These unique bottles were rediscovered in the 1980s/1990s, stored in an old forgotten warehouse in the Netherlands. The majority of these precious bottles were repatriated to the Saint James distillery, but only a handful were marketed by Luca Gargano of the prestigious Velier house in Italy. The bottle offered here on Clos des Spiritueux represents one of these authentic treasures. It is a mouth-blown bottle, illustrating artisanal excellence and a piece of Martinique rum history — each bottle is unique, with its particularities due to artisanal manufacture. This 1885 vintage holds the title of the oldest certified bottled rum in the world, a true gem for collectors and lovers of rare spirits.
